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Read the given extract and… (Class 10 English 2025, Q7a)

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EnglishCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2025, set 2/5/1 · 5 marks · Reading comprehension

CBSE Class 10 English 2025: question 7(a)

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2025, paper 2/5/1, section C, question 7(a), for 5 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q7(a) · 5 marks · Reading comprehensionCompetency-basedThe Tale of Custard the Dragon

Read the given extract and answer the questions.

Belinda was as brave as a barrel full of bears,
And Ink and Blink chased lions down the stairs,
Mustard was as brave as a tiger in a rage,
But Custard cried for a nice safe cage.
Belinda tickled him, she tickled him unmerciful,
Ink, Blink and Mustard, they rudely called him Percival

(Tale of Custard the Dragon)

  1. (i)

    What poetic device is used in the first sentence ?

    1 mark
  2. (ii)

    What was ironical about Custard being referred to as Percival ?

    2 marks
  3. (iii)

    Complete the following suitably :
    The word 'unmerciful' in the given context implies that Belinda is ________.

    1 mark
  4. (iv)

    What image of Custard is created in the above lines ?

    1 mark

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2025 board paper, set 2/5/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Look at the comparison 'as brave as'.

Hint 2

Think of what the name Percival suggests, a brave knight.

Hint 3

Compare Custard with the other pets and ask what quality he lacks.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (i) The device is simile (also alliteration): 'as brave as a barrel full of bears'.

    1 mark

  2. (ii) Percival sounds like the name of a brave knight, so it suits a brave person. Custard was a coward, so the name is ironical.

    2 marks

  3. (iii) cruel / heartless (insensitive).

    1 mark

  4. (iv) Custard is shown as a coward, afraid of everything and wanting only a safe cage.

    1 mark

Answer: (i) Simile/alliteration; (ii) Percival means a brave knight but Custard was a coward; (iii) cruel; (iv) a coward

Where the marks are

  • Simile or alliteration (1 mark)
  • Percival was brave, Custard a coward (1+1 marks)
  • cruel/heartless (1 mark)
  • Image of a coward (1 mark)

Revise the chapter

Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from The Tale of Custard the Dragon, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2025 board paper, set 2/5/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.